The New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
Presents
Christmas with The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas
Thursday 4th - Saturday 6th December 2014
What better way to celebrate the coming of Christmas than to be transported back to a magical era of cabaret, booze, girls and gambling!
I'm not sure there is anyone who hasn't heard of the Rat Pack - Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. But did you know that there were actually 4 members of the Rat Pack? No, well there were! The forth member of this famous group was actor Peter Lawford (JKF's brother-in-law) - I digress but it is always a good one to know in those pub quizzes!
Christmas with The Rat Pack concentrates on the 3 singers Sinatra, Martin and Davis Jr. We open to a live band on stage 'The Rat Pack Big Band' which sets the mood wonderfully. As they play you feel as if you are in Las Vegas waiting for the acts to arrive. The stage is smokey with stairs going up to the band. There are presents in the corners of the stage and a large Christmas tree sparkling away giving you that warm, Christmassy feeling.
The whole show is set in the famous Sands Hotel and runs exactly how their cabarets would have in the late 50's, early 60's. Sinatra (Tam Ward), Davis Jr. (Jay Marsh) and Martin (Phil Barley) all do a few numbers and there is a lot of banter between the 3 on stage. We also have the Burelli Sisters, played by Leanne Howell, Chelsea Labadini & Emily Thomas who are poised, elegant, muli-talented with absolutely beautiful outfits.
Act 1 ends on a high with a wonderful rendition of New York, New York which really gets your toes tapping and looking forward Act 2 which does not disappoint with some great Christmas medleys and more hilarious banter.
The performers are all pitch perfect and draw you into the atmosphere of the evening. Musical Director Matthew Freeman is masterful in her performance and quite rightly gets several mentions during the performance.
One of my favourite numbers has to be Jay Marsh's rendition of Mr Bojangles which was full of character, mood and reflection but with 38 songs all sang to perfection and with great style the audience were spoilt for choice.
This is a great watch and makes you leave the theatre with a warm, Christmassy feeling inside - a great show for a wintery night.
Review by Jayne Lunn
